I have been so happy with my Nokia N8 (and Windows Phone 7 device) that I forgot about my Nokia N900. I just received the news that SPB TV is now available for the Maemo platform so I pulled out my N900, charged it up, and installed the new software. It also gave me a chance to update other pieces of software and discover the N900 really is a fantastic piece of work.
SPB TV is the first streaming TV application I have seen for Maemo and with the integrated kickstand on the device it does give you a nice viewing option. SPB TV is available on virtually all of the mobile platforms now and offers some decent content for free. There are actually now more than 150 channels from over 20 countries. SPB Software reported that there are more than 2 million users as well.
As listed in their press release, the main features of SPB TV for Maemo include:
Full Screen TV player with picture-in-picture mode
Unique TV browser with fast channel launching and switching
A wide selection of public live TV channels
Integrated TV Guide with a list of current and upcoming TV shows
On-screen control panel
Video quality switcher
Advanced Video Codec support
Most of the stations are foreign stations, but I do enjoy the Christian stations and a couple that have football and rugby coverage. Have you tried out SPB TV and if so, what do you think of it?
So the other day I posted that the Nokia N900 was able to run webOS games as shown in the video on Engadget. A reader, Kumar, submitted a comment to my post that linked to his installation guide that gives you step-by-step instructions for getting your N900 up and running. Be aware though that this process is not for the faint of heart and I haven’t personally gotten around to doing it myself yet.
I bought several games when I had a Palm webOS device and I need to check to see if there is anyway to install those games on my N900 since I technically “own” the licenses to them and am not using them at the moment.
Have any of you tried this out yet? Thanks a million to Kumar for posting the instructions and sharing them with everyone.
OK, let’s start this off by making sure you know that MeeGo 1.1 is intended for developers only to try on their N900. I assume no risk for your N900 if you decide to try out MeeGo yourself. The instructions on MeeGo Experts don’t look too bad, but since I am not a developer I am not going to try it without some more research to ensure I know what I am doing before I give it a try. Any readers out there get MeeGo up and running on their N900?
I just saw the below video over on Engadget and am pretty amazed at how well the games are running. I purchased about 20 games for my Palm Pre Plus, but no longer own it and cannot use any of those games. The Engadget post shows webOS games running on the N900 and it sounds as if some enterprising developers made it work with some kind of Preenv utility. I am not sure what was done to make this happen and would love for there to be some way for us to purchase and install games on our N900 devices.
I would like to see Dungeon Hunter and H.A.W.X. on my N900. If you could play webOS games on your N900, which ones would you like to try?
I just read over on The Handheld Blog that PR1.3 for the Nokia N900 is rolling out across different regions right now. This will bring the firmware up to v20.2010.36-2 and is available over the air. I don’t have my N900 with me at the moment so I cannot confirm if it is available in the US yet, but will try when I get home tonight.
I understand the new firmware has some bug fixes, stability improvements, and support for Nokia’s Ovi Suite. It is also supposed to aid developers in dual booting their devices into MeeGo. It is doubtful that any MeeGo hardware will be coming out this year so this should give enterprising users the capability to try out MeeGo for themselves on the N900 and it is something I will be looking into on my N900 soon.
After I get my Nokia N900 updated I will look around and see if I can find any other specific updates and if an official changelog is posted I will include that as well.
I LOVE my Nokia N900 and it is saying a lot for a device if it stays in my collection for a full year or longer and I have now had the N900 for just about a year. I was disappointed to hear it wouldn’t get Maemo 6 or MeeGo, but according to a post on FoneArena the N900 may get support for dual booting Maemo and MeeGo with a PR 1.3 update in November. I don’t know if this is just someone dreaming of the best scenario for N900 owners or what, but if it happens that will make me very happy. I will probably end up getting the N9 or whatever MeeGo device comes out, but if I can try MeeGo on my N900 first that would be fantastic.
OK, since news is a bit slow as we approach Nokia World (you do know I will be there, right?) it is a good time to see what is cooking over at Nokia Beta Labs. We are at the tail end of the summer here in Washington State and I am finding that mobile phone photos are not turning out very well with all of the background light. I just read on the Nokia Beta Labs blog that there two new applications for the Nokia N900 that look to take the camera to the next level. The HDR Capture application is designed for those situations when you are taking a photo with an open window with light behind the subject. The Lowlight Assistant is designed to help in situations when there is light, but not enough to give you a good photo.
Check out the samples and more details on the Nokia Beta Labs site. You can then sign into your Nokia account and download the apps.
Last week I wrote about the Game Gripper accessory for the Nokia N900. As I said I ordered one right away and a couple of days ago the Game Gripper arrived. I really did not know what to expect from the button design because it wasn’t that clear to me how the buttons were inserted into the rubber piece. I ordered the SNES style of buttons since that looked like the most traditional type for playing games and I enjoy SNES games on my N900. I ordered an extra set of buttons and now wish I would have purchased the orange ones I was thinking about.
Design and installation
The Game Gripper is composed of the main body and inserted buttons. The main body is thick black rubber that seems like it will last forever. The rubber has openings on the top for the button inserts with a small “gg” over on the right for Game Gripper. On the right side that leads down and around the right side of the keyboard you will find a rubber piece with a round opening for the 3.5mm headset jack. On the left side you see a square opening for the microUSB port.
The game buttons are hard colored plastic and do have movement in each of their openings. The opening they fit through is small than the nub on bottom side so they should not just fall out with standard handling. It takes a bit of effort and stretching remove and replace a game button, which is what you want for such an accessory.
The buttons is designed to fit perfectly over selected keys so that the proper actions are taken when you play games.
Setting up your emulator
As you can see in my video, you do have to go through each emulator and setup the Game Gripper to get the best game playing experience out of your N900. I didn’t cut out my mistakes from the video and as you can see just popping it on there and hoping the keys were mapped did not work for the Colecovision or SNES emulators.
However, after proper setup and calibration within the emulator, game play was excellent. I like that you can customize the buttons to your liking, which should help you play the games better than if you just used the defaults. As you can see towards the end of my video, Donkey Kong Country was much easier to play with the Game Gripper on the N900 than when I played it before having to remember the buttons to press.
Should you get one?
If you like to play classic games on your N900 and enjoy the emulator experience on the N900 then you should definitely pick one of these up for just $14.99. I plan to carry it with me in my gear bag when I travel so I can have a full gaming experience and web browsing experience with a single device on the go.
You will find a warning slip in the package that says heavy game play may wear away selected keys faster than others and may void your warranty if you have a problem with the keyboard in the future.
I previously wrote up my first impressions of Sygic Mobile Maps 9 for the N900 and covered most of my thoughts in the 13 minute video. I found the application to be decent, but could not recommend it for EUR49.99 based on the fact that it kept jumping around the map, required too many button presses to navigate around, and did not seem to be quite ready for primetime. I was going to follow-up with a full review, but did not find the software useful enough to do so. Thus, I was pleased to receive an email this morning that Sygic just released Mobile Maps 10 for the Nokia N900 and I will be taking a closer look at it over the next few days with a full review coming here so you can decide if it is now worth the
According to the email I received Mobile Maps 10 for the N900 includes the following:
The app has new look and feel.
While all maps and content are stored on the phone, we added online sharing of speed traps or road incident locations and within few weeks also real-time traffic.
Navigation to addresses stored in phone’s Contacts is available.
Scrolling through menus, lists and map zooming supports touchscreen gestures so that no buttons are needed when using Mobile Maps.
Recent state or country is stored automatically, new destination entry is easier and non-relevant cities from various states will not pop up. If you want to pick a destination from a country other than the one you used the last time, just tap Back button on the keyboard to display the list of all available countries.
Maps have also received an upgrade. Now with more detail, safer and easier navigation.
There is a detailed upgrade process for those with Mobile Maps 9 that includes a few manual tasks that are just fine with us geeks who like to tinker, but may be a bit of an issue for newbies. The download for US maps and the application was 1.28GB so it took quite some time to download the update. Make sure to follow the directions specifically to complete the upgrade process.
I will post some quick first thoughts here with an update after I get the huge download to finish up and get the update installed. Nokia did upgrade the Ovi Maps client for the N900 in the last firmware update, but you still cannot get offline maps with Ovi Maps so this is one area where Sygic Mobile Maps 10 is better for sure.
Now that I am back to using my Nokia N900 much more I was excited to read the news on Engadget this morning that the Game Gripper is now available for pre-ordering for the Nokia N900. I just ordered one with an extra set of buttons for my N900 since I have my N900 loaded with SNES and ColecoVision games.
I grew up with the ColecoVision as one of my first gaming system and still vividly remember when my brother and I stayed up most all of that Christmas night playing games. I now have Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, Zaxxon, Frogger, Galaxian, Pitfall, and Star Wars loaded on my N900. I also was a big fan of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and have Donkey Kong Country, Pitfall, and more loaded with this emulator. Emulator games play very well on the Nokia N900 and as an old-timer I am really loving it as a gaming system. With the Game Gripper I should be able to enjoy the games even more.
Do you enjoy playing emulated games on your Nokia N900 too? If so, what are your favorite games?
As I mentioned last week one of the pieces of software that I have been waiting to see released for the N900 is an Office editor and creator. I actually am a bit surprised that DataViz launched this software for such a small Maemo 5 community when the larger Palm webOS community has been clamoring for something from DataViz or Quickoffice for quite some time. The Nokia N900 is a good fit for such software due to the QWERTY keyboard, large display, Bluetooth keyboard support, and TV out capability, but I am not sure how many copies they will sell at $29.99. If you purchaed their Viewer Edition, version 1.0, then the upgrade to Premium is free so that is worth the $10 you paid for the Viewer. You do get 30 days to test it out and if Office editing and creation is essential to your work then the $29.99 price may not be much of a concern and it certainly wasn’t back in the days before the iPhone forced software prices to drop like a rock.
Documents To Go for Maemo 5 currently supports viewing, editing, and creation of Word and Excel files with support for PowerPoint editing and creation under development. PowerPoint support will be released as a free update to DTG Premium Edition owners.
Key features
I use Documents To Go on my iPad and Google Android devices and so I was pleased to see a very familiar interface and icon/menu system here on the N900. Check out my video below for a walk through the software to go along with my written feedback on the software.
As stated on the DataViz website, the key features of Documents To Go for Maemo 5 include:
View, Edit & Create Word 97-2010 files (.doc / .docx)
Keep original formatting thanks to InTact Technology
Mult-level zoom support
Live embedded hyperlink support
Interact with Table of Contents and web hyperlinks in your files.
Password protection of files
Installation and initial setup
The first thing you need to make sure of is that your Nokia N900 is upgraded to the latest version 1.2 Maemo 5 operating system. The install file is sized at about 9 MB and there is currently no desktop companion software for synchronization. After installation, you then will see Word To Go, Sheet To Go, and Slideshow To Go icons on your N900 launcher screen. There is no global, centralized Documents To Go application on Maemo, which I think would be nice to have. After you tap on Word or Sheet To Go you are walked through a registration process with the options to Buy Now (takes you to their website), enter activation code (if you already purchased), or continue with the 30-day full version trial. After you enter your registration code for one of the products, it is applied to the database across the others so you only need to enter it once.
You will then land at a page (the file browser) with buttons to Open a document or create a New document. You can also tap the top central menu and see options for clearing recent files, about, settings, and activate features. The only thing here in these settings is to determine what format new files will be created in, either MS Office 97-2004 and XP or MS Office 2007-2008. You can top Open to browse for a supported file or tap New to create a new one.
Supported file types include the following:
Word 97, 2000, X, XP, 2003, 2007, 2010 for Windows
Word 98, 2001, 2004, 2008 for Macintosh
Excel 97, 2000, X, XP, 2003, 2007, 2010 for Windows
Excel 98, 2001, 2004, 2008 for Macintosh
Text (.txt)
You can use the Slideshow To Go module to view PowerPoint presentations and they do look good on the N900 display. There is currently no editing capability here though. You can use the TV out capability of the N900 to present on the road.
Using Documents To Go for Maemo 5
I am going to break this section down into the three modules of Documents To Go and include the available menus and options in the software. Much of the functionality in the first module applies to the others and I will not repeat myself for each section below. I also tested out the InTact Technology and from my experiences so far all of my special formatting (headings, logos, etc.) stayed just as they were on the original document even when transferring via a USB drive connection. You can also email documents directly from within the application, as you will see.
Word To Go
After tapping the New button you will see a blank white page with your cursor at the top left of the first line. There is no support for portrait orientation, which is fine since the keyboard works in landscape mode and the landscape display is optimal for Office document editing and creation. You will see the menu options and software functions along the bottom of the display. Moving from left to right along the bottom, we see nine icons for document control, editing, and more. Tapping the first five icons opens up a submenu with icons or selector boxes appearing above these icons. The first one is for saving the document, the second is for character formatting (bold, italic, underline), the third for paragraph formatting (left, center, right, and justified), the fourth is for text color selection, the fifth is for indent right or left, the sixth is for zoom levels (50%, 100%, and 200%), the seventh is to find and replace text, the eighth is to email the document, and the last one on the right is to toggle full screen on and off. You can also use the volume button to zoom in and out in Documents To Go.
You can also tap the top center toolbar and see options for formatting (character and paragraph), Go to, Properties, About, and Help. Character formatting includes font (4 available by default), size, bold, italic, underline, text color, and highlight color. Paragraph formatting is the same as the icon with left, center, right, and justified. The Go To options include top, middle, and center.
Word To Go works well, especially with the dedicated Ctrl button on the N900 giving you easy access to copy and paste functionality right from the keyboard. The arrow keys work just fine, but using a program like this does make me miss having a Tab button. If you try to leave the document without saving then you are given the option to save or close without saving.
Sheet To Go
Starting a new spreadsheet in Sheet To Go takes you to a blank spreadsheet on Sheet 1. By default you are zoomed into 50% with options to jump to 100%, 150%, and 200%. 50% is a bit difficult to work with, but it lets you see columns from A to Q and rows from 1 to 35 by default. Similar to Word To Go there are icons along the bottom to format and navigate the application. There are eight icons in Sheet To Go, including save, text formatting, cell formatting, number formatting, zoom slider, find/replace, email, and full screen toggle. Cell formatting options include font selector (3 fonts), font size, bold, italic, underline, text color, cell color, and alignment (general, left, center, and right). Number formatting includes category (general, number, currency, date, time, percentage, scientific, and text).
Since this is a spreadsheet with calculations you will want to spend time working in the cell formatting area. After tapping in a cell you then tap in the top cell input box and will see a red x, green check, and fx icon. Tapping fx pops up the function category selector from ten possible categories. Tapping on a column pops up a menu for fit, hide, unhide, insert, and delete. Tapping on a row pops up a menu for hide, unhide, insert, and delete. You can press and hold shift and then use the arrow keys to select multiple cells, rows, or columns in the spreadsheet. Up in the top right you can tap the visible button to jump to other sheets or edit sheets (insert, rename, and delete). You can also tap the cell name in the upper left to quickly jump to another cell.
There is no chart creation capability in Sheet To Go and I couldn’t figure out how to link cells between sheets. There are a ton of functions available and the software does cover just about everything you would do on your phone with Excel.
Slideshow To Go
DataViz stated that PowerPoint slideshow editing and creation will eventually be coming to Documents To Go, but for now it is only available for viewing slideshows. After opening up a PPT or PPS file you see a few controls on the bottom for find, email, arrow forward or arrow back, and jump to a slide. There is also a full screen toggle over in the bottom right corner. Tapping the top center toolbar gives you buttons to view slides, outline, and notes. You can also see options to open a slideshow, save a copy, view the slideshow properties, and view the software version.
When you jump into full screen mode you will see large navigation arrows on the left and right side of the slides. Slideshow To Go can be valuable for reviewing slideshows and preparing yourself to present on the go.
Conclusion
DataViz Documents To Go is a functional application that brings Word and Excel creation and editing to the Nokia N900. It is as powerful as most other mobile Office applications on other platforms and knowing DataViz they will add functionality to make it even better. Their InTact Technology does a great job of maintaining your original document formatting too.
Back in May DataViz told us that Documents To Go Premium would be coming to the Nokia N900 after the 1.2 update. On May 26th, the 1.2 update was released, but all I heard from DataViz was the sound of crickets and I worried that they dropped this project since Maemo 5 was a dead end for the Nokia N900. I am very pleased to now inform you that Documents To Go Premium Edition for Nokia Maemo 5 is now available for the N900. The software costs $29.99 and if you want to know all about it, then stay tuned here for a full review tomorrow.
I have Documents To Go on my Google Android and iPad devices and find it to be one of the best ever Office suites and this software will have me using my N900 more now. With this software you can view, edit, and create Microsoft Word and Excel documents and spreadsheets right on your N900. According to the website, key features include:
Native Word and Excel File Editing, including Office 2007 and 2010 files.
Password Protection
Quick Keyboard Shortcuts
InTact technology to retain original formatting
Multi-level zoom
Live hyperlink support
PowerPoint Support Coming Soon (Support for editing Microsoft PowerPoint files will be available as a free update once available.)
Customers who have already purchased Documents To Go Viewer Edition v 1 for Maemo will receive a FREE upgrade to Premium Edition. A 30-day, fully functional free trial is available for download via a pre-loaded download link on the Nokia N900 and also via Ovi Store. For those who interested in a view-only solution, Documents To Go Viewer Edition will remain available for $9.99.
I know I am ruining my own chances at a fantastic offer, but wanted to let you all know about the cool Nokia Newegg.com promotion where you have the chance to pick up a Nokia N900 or E72 for just $1. There are special Newgg.com-Nokia banner ads with a yellow egg and the two devices, found on a couple of sites mentioned on the WOMWorld site, and when that egg flashes if you are the first to click through then you can get this deal. This is for North American Nokia fans only.
I now need to come up with a way to monitor the sites with these ads so I can try to win one. If you do happen to stumble upon this over the next month please let us know. I understand there will be 20 such offers over the next month so some people are going to get a fantastic deal on one of these devices.
I’ve been using the Nokia E73 Mode as my primary T-Mobile device for the last couple of weeks and as awesome as the N900 is I am finding the utility and ease-of-use of the E73 Mode to be more compelling at the moment. If you are bored with your N900, then you should check out this Android Central post that shows Google Android Froyo 2.2 running on the N900. There are definitely limitations with the build at the moment, but it is pretty slick it runs as well as it does.
I wonder if the issues with the SD card mounting have to do with the fact that there is an integrated flash drive on the N900 since I have seen issue with apps on the HTC Incredible (one of the only Android phones with an integrated flash drive). I am pleased enough with the N900 and Maemo while also having my own Sprint HTC EVO 4G that I do not plan to attempt this port. Any readers try this out? Keep in mind, I am NOT recommending it and just thought it was pretty cool that it is possible.
A Nokia N900, running Android? Not as far fetched as you may think. There is now picture and video goodness of this phone running Android 2.2, and the hardware seems to handle the platform remarkably well. While not fully complete (wifi, cell signal and SD card don’t quite work properly), this is, in this geek’s opinion, awesome. Check out the video for some specifics:
We’ve seen the Android OS running on different platforms, like we saw it running on Window’s mobile powered HD2 and the iPhone, but what do you think of running Android on the Nokia N900? Yes folks, you heard it right. Hackers have done such a great job by porting Android 2.2 into the N900, which is a very popular device. It’s not the final build, so that’s why some features are not working perfectly. There is a video for you after the break in which you will see the Nokia N900 running Android 2.2.
Have a look at the video, and please share your thoughts:
I just mentioned the Nokia N900 Commuter Series OtterBox case a couple of weeks ago and the great folks at OtterBox sent along a sample for me to check out since they know I am such a fan of my Nokia N900. The Nokia N900 Commuter Series case looked attractive on their site, but after it arrived and I placed my N900 inside I have to say it may be one of the best cases ever made by OtterBox for a phone or PDA.
Package and contents
The OtterBox Commuter Series for Nokia N900 comes in a clear plastic package with OtterBox labeling and details on a cardboard piece sandwiched between two plastic pieces. Thankfully, OtterBox doesn’t require you to have Ginsu knives and a degree in plastics to get the case open and the two halves separate quite easily. Inside the plastic packaging you will find two halves to the case, a screen protector, lens cleaning cloth, installation card, and screen protector instructions. I did not use or try out the screen protector because I already have BodyGuardZ protector on my display and did not want to remove it for this review.
Installation
You will find two pieces that form this case and it is clear which piece is for the bottom and which piece is for the top. The bottom/back piece is the most substantial and has integrated silicone rubber plugs for the microUSB port and the 3.5mm headset jack to protect these openings from dust. I liked seeing the substantial silicone rubber piece along most of the top/right side with protrusions to control volume, toggle the power button, and control the camera capture button. There is even an opening next to the camera capture button for the IR port (I never use this though). You will find additional openings on the left/top and right/bottom sides for the stereo speakers, lock switch, microphone and stylus silo. There is no compromise really on any of the ports or openings with your N900 in this case. The keyboard is also fully accessible and the case just adds a couple millimeters around the edges.
Flipping around to the back you will see the OtterBox name on the lower portion with an opening around the camera lens that matches up perfectly. There is a notch out of the case so you can easily flip up the N900 kickstand too. You will find your N900 leans back a bit more on the kickstand in the case due to the added thickness of the case shell, but this viewing angle is still great for watching movie content. There is no impact at all on camera functionality when the case is on the N900.
The top piece is quite small and simply clips onto the display with small plastic tabs on the top/right side. I found that these hold the case on very well and experienced no movement or shifting of the case. This top piece adds a border around the display with an opening for the Nokia name and gives a bit of depth to the front display. With the touchscreen part of the display well inside the bezel you will find it has no impact on the touchscreen capability or functionality of the display.
The screen protector is a self-adhering piece of plastic that cover the entire front display on the device with a notch for the Nokia name and opening for the headset speaker. I mentioned I did not use it, but will apply it if my BodyGuardZ wears out since it appears to fit well and looks easy to install (I have used these same type on other devices before).
Every day usage and conclusions
I didn’t think I would actually keep my N900 in the case after the review, but I have to honestly say that it adds very little bulk to the N900 (already a rather chunky device) and my device has not left the case since it arrived. It offers a fair amount of protection and peace of mind knowing that my N900 can probably do better with a slip or fall from my hand while in the case. This is NOT a waterproof case and is designed to protect against bumps and shocks. I found no negative impact on the usability of my device and see no reason it will ever leave the case.
The OtterBox Commuter Series for Nokia N900 is available now in black for $34.95. If you are someone like me who spends time out in the field (shipyard in my case) or moves around a lot with their devices you might like to know that your device is protected from minor drops and bumps while also giving it a cool look and more substantial feel.
Ratings (out of 5)
Design and Function: 5
Fit and Finish: 5
Aesthetics: 4.5
Ease of Use/installation: 5
Overall: 5/5
Pros
Adds good protection to the N900 rugged corners and back covered well
Attractive and well constructed case
Fully accessibile ports and hardware buttons
Rubber covers for open ports to keep out dust
Cons
Bit bulky, but that is more a case of the N900 being chunky
I mentioned yesterday that the 1.2 update was rolling out in the UK for the Nokia N900, but that I was leaving on vacation so I didn’t think I would get it. I am leaving in a couple of hours, but saw the update appear on my N900 so I couldn’t resist updating my device. I did get a low memory available error, but simply turned off all my application catalogs (except for Nokia), restarted, and the update was applied. I like to live dangerously and did not create a backup first, as prompted, and just went for it with the update. It took about 10 minutes in total time to update my Nokia N900, but my device is now update and reads Version 10.2010.19-1.002.
I have only spent a couple of minutes with it, but have the following quick thoughts for you:
The custom positioning is not just for the first application screen, but all of your apps appear on the page and there is no longer a More apps 2nd screen. Everything appears on one, but I have not seen anyway to create folders for further organization.
The Ovi Maps interface and functionality is MUCH IMPROVED! I like the easy view toggle, much better directions setup interface, walking and driving directions entry screen, and more. I plan to test this out a lot more when I return. We now need offline Ovi Maps support so I can take my N900 when I leave the country.
I cannot figure out how to switch to portrait mode in the browser since rotating the display does not seem to do it.
Great, just as I am getting ready to leave town for over a week on a cruise with my wonderful wife of 17 years Nokia goes and decides to release the N900 version 1.2 firmware update. The update is rolling out in the UK today and starts globally tomorrow. Unfortunately, I will not be able to provide you all with an in-depth walk through the update until after I return next week. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what you can expect.
New games will be released, including Jurassic 3D, Rollercoaster, Angry Birds level pack, and more. These games will show up in the Ovi Store after Thursday, 27 May.
You will also see some improvements in the communication systems. You will be able to accept or decline meeting invitations. Facebook IM chat will be included, alogn with some kind of video calling capability (not sure what client is being used here) via Skype as Jason tested out and confirmed. Portrait web browsing is included. There is also an Ovi Maps update and I sure hope it gives us a MUCH improved experience because it is quite lame at the moment.
Thankfully, you will also find the ability to customize the first level of the menu system icons.
Several of these updates are things we have been able to do with kludgy fixes so it is nice to see a single update incorporate these capabilities.
Here is my list of things I want to see improved in the N900 and I have no idea if this update will address any of them as details still are not fully revealed:
Improved email client that more closely matches other smartphones
Ability to send text messages in portrait mode with the on-screen keyboard
Ability to organize application icons/shortcuts into folders
Are you happy to see this update? What is the biggest feature you were looking forward to? What else would you like to see before Nokia abandons Maemo and switches to Meego?
I previously wrote about how you can use Google Docs on the N900, but it is a bit painful to navigate around and use it extensively. We have had a Documents To Go viewer on the N900 since launch last November, but have not seen any kind of full Office upgrade to this application like we see on other platforms like Android and the iPhone. I just saw a post appear on the DataViz blog that states Documents To Go Premium for the N900 will be available shortly after the 1.2 update. This should be the full monty and give us Office document editing and creation ability on the N900.
I searched around the Maemo.org site and see that a RC version of PR1.2 is floating around so our N900 devices should be updated soon. I am not going to upgrade until an official release is available, but look forward to getting Office capability on such a large device as the N900.
Nokia news has been a bit slow as we wait for the Nokia N8, Symbian ^3 devices, and more. I did receive news from OtterBox today that they released a new Nokia N900 Commuter Series case. This spurred me to check out the Nokia case selection and I see that they actually have cases for quite a few newer devices, including the N97, N97 mini, E72, and 5800 XpressMusic.
The N900 Commuter Series case does look to add a nice layer of protection with silicone plugs covering the ports, full access to the touch screen and buttons, a self-adhering film for the display, and integrated kickstand modeled after the one found around the camera lens on the N900 itself. You can pick one up for $34.95 and if you spend over $60 they have free ground shipping.
I have been so happy with my Nokia N8 (and Windows Phone 7 device) that I forgot about my Nokia N900. I just received the news that SPB TV is now available for the Maemo platform so I pulled out my N900, charged it up, and installed the new software. It also gave me a chance to update other pieces of software and discover the N900 really is a fantastic piece of work.
So the other day I posted that the Nokia N900 was able to run 
I LOVE my Nokia N900 and it is saying a lot for a device if it stays in my collection for a full year or longer and I have now had the N900 for just about a year. I was disappointed to hear it wouldn’t get Maemo 6 or MeeGo, but according to a post on 
I previously wrote up my 
Now that I am back to using my Nokia N900 much more I was excited to read the news on 
Back in May DataViz 
I know I am ruining my own chances at a fantastic offer, but wanted to let you all know about the cool 
I just mentioned the 
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